Critic Reviews

This is one game where you find yourself interacting with every swing, punch and KO. One of the most interactive games on the market. It gives you feeling of wanting to win with the perfect combination of strategy and skill.

Ready 2 Rumble is a swell party game, but don't overlook its one-player championship mode. It's very satisfying to work your way up the ranks, and the "training" mini-games are short and sweet. Each contest is introduced by Michael Buffer and his trademark line, "Are you ready to rumblllllle?!!!" Thank goodness you can hit a button to skip that! The game's cheesy rap theme song is equally annoying. Even so, Ready 2 Rumble's wacky theme and accessible gameplay is hard to dislike.

This is a great sequel that leaves little room for error with the minute changes to the gameplay. Die-hard boxing fans may be disappointed by the complete lack of realism, but this was never the intent of the developers. This is an easy to pick up arcade boxing game, still one of the best ever conceived. Still a shame this isn't Punch-Out.

Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2 is a solid arcade-style boxing game, and like most arcade games, it wears thin fairly quickly. The only challenge that the game really presents is unlocking additional characters, which simply consists of the time-consuming task of beating the game over and over. But since the game's AI is relatively simple, you'll quickly learn all of the little tricks that'll lead you to a win with little or no thought put into it at all, which ultimately makes R2RB: R2 a game that's better suited for rental than purchase.

So if Round 2 comes with improved visuals and better gameplay, what's wrong with the game? I love the humor and the style but despite the added gameplay elements that do improve the game, it's really the same game as Ready 2 Rumble Boxing. Even though the AI is improved, it's still all a matter of walking back and forth and sneaking a blow here and there. There should be more freedom in combinations, because doing preset combos over and over again gets tedious very quickly. Everything just feels like the same game I played a year ago, though the Championship Mode, which has been improved from last year's version, contains some fun mini-games. Finally, playing against another human player certainly extends the life of a game. But in the end, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2, though improved from the first, will provide only a few hours of thrilling boxing matches.

In the end, Ready 2 Rumble Round 2 is a solid arcade-style boxing game, and like most arcade games, it wears thin fairly quickly. The only challenge that the game really presents is unlocking additional characters, which simply consists of the time-consuming task of beating the game over and over. But since the game's AI is relatively simple, you'll quickly learn all of the little tricks that'll lead you to a win with little or no thought put into it at all, which ultimately makes R2RB: R2 a game that's better suited for rental than purchase.

It looks better, has more characters, and a deeper Championship mode, but it's still the same beast from a year ago. I'm impressed with improvements the developers made, I just wish gameplay was one of them. There is still no character balance, and absolutely no challenge for boxers that can move moderately fast. If there's to be a third in this series, I hope the matches will be more entertaining than the training.

Sharing the same fate as its predecessor, Round 2 focuses heavily on graphical fluff but not enough on gameplay. As intended, the visual content will stupefy the eye, and the amusing character personalities will tickle the funny bone, but the play will do little more than bore and aggravate consumers. I truly believe Midway made a valiant attempt to improve the AI, and to some degree the CPU opponents are smarter, yet even so, the same strategy from the first release can be tapped to topple most of the competition. Just punch and retreat. They never catch on. As a multiplayer game, Round 2 shines. Using superhero-esque moves to snap your friends jaw proves to be enjoyable every time. For the second time, the single-player experience is dreadful. Training grows old within minutes, and only the last boss is challenging.

In the end, Ready 2 Rumble: Round 2 fails to grab the torch from the game it tries so hard to emulate, Mike Tyson’s Punch Out. That game used the same combination of crazy characters and amazing (for its day) graphics. However, that classic utilized a simple, yet timeless gameplay model that had endured to this day. If you want boxing perfection, skip ahead to Classic GI and check out our Punch Out strategy guide.

If no other systems or choices were present, the N64 version of Ready to Rumble: Round 2 would make a great addition to any gamer's library. The game takes the already tried and true formula of fast and carefree arcade boxing and adds new characters, new animations, new voices, and new multiplayer modes. If you already own the first title and have since lost interest, then this sequel is definitely not enough to entice you for another purchase. If you are a true fan of the series, then perhaps give it a good weekend rent before you remember why you ended up putting the game down in the first place.

Those who bought the previous Ready 2 Rumble and are expecting a completely new experience will be sorely disappointed -- it's simply a basic roster update for the original. Yet gamers who haven't had a chance to play the first game will want to at least rent the sequel for some mindless but fun arcade-style action.

Overall, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2 is a fun game that will undoubtedly impress those who've never played the original. Unfortunately for those of us who have played the first game, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2 wears thin quickly, as little aside from the game's character lineup has changed. The game's AI and gameplay are still as simple as those of the first game, which ultimately makes R2RB: R2 a game that's better suited for rental than purchase.

This is classic videogame rental material, worth every penny of its rental fee for the few hours of pleasure it will provide the two players that choose their favorite cartoony boxers (Shaq's the man in "Round 2", even though he's too slow and doesn't look like the real Shaq) for some technically-crippled, but inspired and amusing, dumb arcadey fun.

Overall, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2 is a fun game that will undoubtedly impress those who've never played the original. Unfortunately for those of us who have played the first game, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2 wears thin quickly, as little aside from the game's character lineup has changed. The game's AI and gameplay are still as simple as those of the first game, which ultimately makes R2RB: R2 a game that's better suited for rental than purchase.

Ready 2 Rumble Round 2 is an arcade game, plain and simple. Unfortunately, that just doesn't cut it with today's console systems. While it makes a stab at depth with the Championship mode, that turns out to be a huge disappointment. Is a good boxing game that hard to make? Finally, I just have to say that despite my prancing and finger snapping, I could kick Michael Jackson's ass, despite the fact that one of his gloves is golden.

Ready to Rumble: Round 2 is a nice sequel to the first game, and it's fun to play for around three to four hours. Once you have played through it with a bunch of characters, though, you really don't need to play it again. This one is strictly for newbies and casual gamers. And hey, I did have fun playing as Michael Jackson and Shaquille O'Neal, but neither were as fun as Freak E. Deke. Too bad this game is as shallow as a kiddy pool.

Like boxing? Go and buy Knockout Kings. A much better game that will challenge you. R2R redeems itself with the training mode but it isn't enough to save this game. PIUU!!! And I thought my feet smelled bad, this cartridge needs some Lysol!